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to Dr. SciiOMBi KOK, Adelaide, and I*. A. Bih.wvs, list}.. Brisbane, for numerous brochures 
bearing on botanical subjects. 
Herbaniim , — This now comprises over 8,000 determined species. Consignments have, 
from time to time, been sent to Kew for identification, and a large consignment is now ready 
for forwarding. 
A good deal of information has been collected about Malayan plant medicines and 
poisons, and my thanks are due to Dr. Little and R, Jamie, Esq., for their kindness in 
forwarding specimens for identification, with particulars of uses, mode of preparation, Ac. 
No replies have yet been received to the Circulars sent to the Native States, by order 
of the Hon’ble J. Douglas, 20th May, 1878.. 
A collection of one hundred specimens was presented to the Vega expedition, a list of 
which is appended. 
Papers are in course of preparation on the Malay and Botanical names of our indigenous 
fruits, and also on native timbers, of which a good collection is being got together. 
•It has been suggested by several visitors to the Gardens that if a place for exhibiting 
these wore provided, they would prove very interesting, and add materially to the attractions 
of the Gardens, and T would suggest that the late Head Gardener’s house be converted into 
an office, and the present office used as a kind of wood museum , as it is much too damp for 
books and papers. . 
Labels .- A quantity of wooden labels lias been substituted for the slate ones, but they 
have not yet undergone a sufficiently long trial to justify a report being made on them. 
• * 
Mr. \\ r . Fox arrived in August to take up his appointment as Head Gardener, and a 
fresh staff has been engaged to keep the roads and walks in repair. 
Cur exchanges continue satisfactory, as will be seen by the appendices, and the cor- 
respondence in connection with the establishment is steadily increasing. 
A list of subscribers is also appended. A subscription of $12 per annum entitles any 
Member of the Community to obtain cut flowers from the Gardens. 
A catalogue of the plants under cultivation has been published, and an appendix 
bringing it up to 31st December, 1879, is in the printers’ hands. About five hundred species 
have been added during the year. 
The flower ground planted last year has helped to supply flowers to subscribers, but not 
to such an extent as had been anticipated. 
As our collection of plants is now assuming large dimensions, sometimes rendering the 
task of finding a particular plant, a difficult one, I would beg to suggest to the Com- 
mittee the propriety of setting apart a piece of land near the nursery, or on the ground near 
the site proposed for the Head Gardener's house, as a stock ground where one or two plants 
of each species could be planted in regular order, and so prevent the species being lost 
altogether. 
The thauks of the Committee are due to the Agents in Singapore: — for the P. AO. Co. ; 
Messrs. Jaudim;, Matheson A Co.; Messrs. Accai; A Co.; the British India, Netherlands 
India, and Burmah Steam-ship Co.s, and specially (o Messrs. Guthrie A Co,, for their 
kindness aud courtesy in taking plants to and from Singapore free of freight. 
In May last 1 took a short trip some miles up the Muar river, and brought back several 
rare plants not previously represented in' our collection. 
A Flower Snow was held in the Gardens on 30th and 3 1st December, and a tine collection 
of plants was brought together, but, in consequence of the uu propitious weather, it proved 
a financial failure. 1 1 
Zoological D epartment. 
A deei fence has been erected on Garden Road side of the lake, and a strained wire 
fence around t he lake to prevent the animals crossing’ over, but it has not answered its 
purpose, and the deer play sad havoc in the Botanical and neighbouring Gardens. 
The old deer enclosure has been taken down, and also the porcupine enclosure. The 
porcupines have been sent to the Museum, and the bears?, orang-outan, a monkey, two deer 
one slow-paced loris, and one vulpine opossum have been sent to the Calcutta Zoological' 
Gardens, in exchange for Indian birds. 
The aviary is in deed of extensive repairs. 
A list of; contributors to this department is appended, also an abstract of expenditure 
IT. 1. MURTON, 
Superintendent. 
